The three fifth years sat in Dumbledore's office, two of them in a stunned silence. Dumbledore had returned, and though he had not explained absolutely everything, he had divulged that vampire slayers were in fact real, and Buffy was one. Due to Hermione's amazed questioning he'd also told them some of the more impressive things the scoobies had faced, carefully dodging Glory. Now Ron and Hermione just gaped as the reason for Dawn's easy dealing with bad guys came into perspective.
"So…When Voldemort said she had much power… is that cos she's the slayer's sister?"
"It's a lot more complicated than that, but I am not at liberty to tell you such things, that is up to Dawn."
"So let's get on with getting her back then!" Draco said sternly.
"Yes yes, Mr. Malfoy, I do agree that is the priority at this time. I have people trying to locate her as we speak, but I fear we may need assistance. Professor McGonogall is arranging for Dawn's sister to come directly. She should arrive in a few minutes.
"Excuse me, sir." Hermione interrupted, "But I really don't see what she'll be able to do. She has no magic, right?"
"No, but she has fought things with more power than herself before, and she technically could learn magic, it comes with the slayer power, just slayers never come to wizarding schools as other things take precedent. Besides, Miss Summer's will want to be here to help any way she can, this is her younger sister we are talking about. Furthermore, I feel some of her friends may be of use too." A slight smile crept onto his face, and Dumbledore closed his eyes briefly. "They are here."
A few minutes later the door burst open and seven people entered, followed by McGonogall. Hermione looked over the group. They were lead by a short blonde girl. Hermione corrected her self; she was a woman really, but a young one. She was followed by two more women: a redhead and another blonde, who stuck very close together at all times. Behind them came two men, an older one with a stern look on his face, and a younger, dark haired man with broad shoulders, who lead another woman by the hand (another blonde), who kept looking suspiciously around at the witches and wizards. At the back of the group stood a man whose appearance struck Hermione immediately, and she was left in no doubt that this was Spike. The leader, who Hermione presumed was Buffy, seemed to be having similar thoughts about Draco. Then she grimaced, and looked away.
"I gotta say something for your transportation." She told Dumbledore, "California to England in the blink of an eye. Must be a record. You Dumbledore?" Dumbledore nodded, slightly taken aback. "You found out where Dawn is?"
"No, I'm afraid not Miss Summers."
"Will?" Buffy said to the redhead. The girl nodded.
"I need some room, and ingredients." She replied. McGonogall looked a little confused, but seemed to know enough to catch on.
"Follow me." She said, and the redhead and her friend complied.
"So fill me in." Buffy said. "Who the hell is this guy, and why does he want my sister? …and who're they?" she added the last as an after thought, indicating Dawn's friends.
"These are some of Dawn's friends who were with her at the time. Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, and…"
"Draco Malfoy." Buffy finished. Draco looked shocked. "She told me about you." None of them but Hermione knew the full meaning of this, and she shared the slightest eye contact with Buffy, having to hold back a smirk. "So… tell me the sitch." Buffy continued. Hermione glanced at Dumbledore. She had never seen him so flustered before, but it seemed to please him. He wasn't used to the off-hand way Buffy spoke to him, but he seemed to admire her strength.
"Why don't you three return to your common rooms, or the hospital wing with Mr. Potter?" Dumbledore told them. The three nodded, annoyed that they were being cut out, but understanding the reasoning. They left, and Buffy turned to Dumbledore once more.
"Who is this guy? And what…"
"I know Miss. Summers, I heard you. 'this guy' is Lord Voldemort, known to his supporters and some others as 'the dark lord'…" He stopped as the colour drained from Buffy's face.
"The Dark Lord? Oh God…"
Hermione and the two boys, who had left very quickly under the professors' gazes, started towards the hospital wing. Ron looked to Draco,
"You're coming to see Harry?"
Draco shrugged,
"I can't go back to the common room right now. Anyway, Potter showed some guts in there. He also showed that he's a dope, … but a brave dope." Hermione smiled grimly. She knew this was as close as they would get to a compliment from him to Harry. Ron shook his head in disbelief, but said nothing.
Madame Pomfrey allowed them to sit by Harry. There was no one else in there, and noise would not disturb Harry as he was in a magical healing sleep, so for once she didn't even mind them talking.
"I still don't see how he's even alive." Hermione breathed.
"Neither do I. But I'm not complaining." Ron said.
"He was hit point blank, we all saw it." Draco added. "It makes no sense." Hermione shook her head.
"Unless… maybe someone did something." She suggested.
"But that curse can't be blocked!" Ron protested. Draco, however realised what she meant.
"Our magic can't block it. But what about wicca?" he said quietly.
"Exactly."
"What!?" Ron exclaimed, "What are you guys talking about?"
"Dawn." Draco breathed.
"Did she tell you she could do that stuff?" Hermione asked, totally ignoring Ron. Draco shook his head.
"But I don't see how else…"
"Neither do I." Hermione breathed. "Neither do I."
Buffy stormed through the school, heading for the entrance hall. Xander rushed after her.
"Buffy! …Buff, wait!"
"There's no time, Xander." She snapped, not even slowing.
"You don't even know where you're going!" Buffy stopped abruptly and turned to her friend of over five years.
"I can't just sit around! You heard him!" She pointed back up the stairs, meaning Dumbledore. "Voldemort is so powerful, and he has Dawn. If he finds out that she's …" Buffy glanced round, and lowered her voice. "If he finds out she was the key, who knows what he'll do!"
"Well it's not like she's about to tell him!"
Buffy dropped her gaze.
"They have magical ways, you know that… But anyway, she won't need to."
"What do you mean Buffy?"
"A couple of nights ago I had a dream. I saw someone being tortured by someone who worked for 'the dark lord'…"
"Shit, Buff, why didn't you say anything?"
"I told Willow, so she could try a locator spell…if he breaks her…"
"Dawn will be ok."
Buffy shook her head vehemently.
"No. That's not who I meant, Xander. Voldemort has…" She looked up again. "He has Faith." At the look of pure shock on his face, she simply turned and resumed her course. He shook his head and spun her back round.
"Buffy! What do you mean he has her? Like she's working with him? I thought you said he was torturing her?" Buffy laughed shortly.
"This is Faith we're talking about Xander. How long do you think she will resist ultimate evil power when the other choice is torture? I got the dream, right? So the powers are warning me. Warning me that he is getting Faith to join him. I have to stop them both!"
"Buffy! Look, I hate to be the one to say this, I really do; but if they wanted to show that he was getting her, then why didn't they show you her accepting the deal? They showed him torturing her, Buff, doesn't that seem weird?"
"The dreams always seem weird. They have never given me anything simple to work with. I'm the slayer, I know what I'm doing!"
Xander sighed.
"Do you? I got a feeling you mightn't be thinking straight on this one, Buffy. You're storming out of here, when Will hasn't even found them yet! You're in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of a country you've never been to. Just wait until we know more, ok?" Buffy was getting annoyed.
" If he finds out she is my sister- or maybe even more than that… then its over! And what reason can you think of for Faith not to tell him? Huh?"
"I know, ok? I know. But there is nothing we can do until we know more, and Faith doesn't know about the key, right? Please just come back." A tear spilled from Buffy's eye as she nodded, slowly.
"Ok."